Squaretop View Moderate Redrock Loop

Rating:
4 miles, altitude 4500 feet, moderate cross-country hiking with sand, some bushes, and some fun redrock to climb on if desired. Approx. 600 feet of climbing on the route, spread over much of the hike.
4x4's are required for the final mile to the trailhead.
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This is a nice moderate cross-country loop in the terrain just below Squaretop Mountain, 8 miles west of Gunlock. Mostly it consists of walking along wash bottom and across low rolling hills. There is some light scrambling and bushwacking, but not enough to be tiresome.
You can also participate in this hike through Red Rock Hiking.

The wash cuts thru groups of exposed redrock knolls, and has quite a few pools along the way. As an extra treat, there are a couple of crude petroglyphs near one of the bigger pools. Rock formations offer fun angles and compositions for photography, too!

This area isn't really spectacular, but it is nice and not too long a hike either. It's a rather obscure location, so the hike should be new for just about everyone.

If you haven't done any cross-country hiking yet, but feel a yen to do so, this might be the one for you. At 4 miles off-trail it's not really easy, but it's no death march.

Drive:
It's about 30 miles total to the trailhead, and anyone who hasn't got a 4x4 should be able to stuff into one for the final rough bit. The road there is not dangerous, just old and eroded in places. It does get some traffic tho.
Prep:
two liters of water should be plenty, along with a hearty snack. There are bushes and rocky areas, so sandals are not recommended. If it's warm a big hat will help. Gloves will assist in the scrambling portions.
See you there! :-)
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Please Note The Following:
Meetup organizers are not tour guides and are not park rangers. Expect the same risks and take the same precautions you would if you were hiking alone. You solely are responsible for your own safety and well-being.
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